Improvement in traction-engines



2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

T. T. PROSSER.

TRACTION ENGINE.

.1 186 Patented Jan. 10, 187-1 i ZZZ 1 M 1 ATTE'ST 2 Sheets-Sh et T. T. PROSSER.

TRAUTION ENGINE. I I No. 110,865. Patented Jan. 10, 1871.

ilk

I FE

timid sate haunt time TREAT T. rnossna, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR T0 HIMSELF,

HENRY WALLER, AND W. s. WALLEa-oF SAME PLACE.

Letters Patent No. 110,865, dated January 10,1871.

IMPROVEMENT IN TRACTION-ENGINES.

The Schedule assets he... nae Patent and mm; part or the same.

To all whom. it'amry concern:

Be it known that I, TREAT T. Pnossnn, of Ohicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, hare invented certain Improvements in Traction-Engines for. Hauling Wagons upon Common Roads-and other purposes; and I dohereby declare that the following is afnll, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the annexed drawing making part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation.

Figure 2 is a plan view: s

Figure 3 is a vertiol section of one of the carriers.

Figure 4 is a section of the driving-pinion.

' Figure 5 isan endview of the boiler and engine,

partly in section.

Figure 6 is a section of the traction-wheel and car'- rler.

The same letters are used in all the figures in the designation'of identical parts.

This invention, is primarily designed for use as a traction-engine for drawing wagons over common roads, for drawing and carrying plows, and for other analogous uses; but the arrangement of the boiler and engine may also be adapted for portable andstationary engines.

My invehtionconsists- First, inthe' peculiar form of the traction-wheel and in the arrangement of the driving and carrying-wheels.

Secondly, in the'construction of the frame and cy1- inders of the engine, and their arrangement in relation to the steam generator.

Thirdly, in the details of the construction of diverse parts, to be specifically set forth in the following specification and claims. 7

- 'In'the annexed drawing- A is the body or main name of a. traction-engine.

The steam-generatorB is placed transversely across this frame. An'y ordinary form of boiler may be adapted' to this use.

i O is the "fiaction-wheel. It is made with a broad tread.' on the inside is a stem or -fin' carrying a cogged flange, O. This is placed inside and centrally of the peripheral rim O and, projecting on each' side of the gearing, forms on each side of the cogs bearings forthe edges of the flanges of the carriers.

Power is communicated to the traction-wheels by means of the driving-pinions D D, constructed with flanges upon each side, as indicated in fig. 4, to form an upper support for the traction-wheels and maintain them in line. These pinions are hung upon the shaft D, which is placed above the boileriand theyare geared into the'internal cogs C at the 'top of the traction-wheel. The advantage in this arrangement of the driving-pipions is that power, being applied to the traction-wheels at the furthest possible point from tho-point of contact with the ground, leverage is obtained equal to that due to the entire diameterof thev both ends of the boiler. They are fitted with the lower heads E, and have their ,valve-chests-cast with the cylinder in the ordinary way. The valves are operated by eccentrics on'the shaftDk The cylinders are supported by the flames G,,which arefitted to and reston .each end of the boiler. These flames are castin one piece, and have'flanges turned up at G to form ways for: the guides of the crossheads. The lower side of the 'cross-head is formed with a longitudinal tonguefitting-into a corresponding groove cut in the upper face of the lower way G, as indicated at G in fig. 5. The lower ends of the frames G are so shaped and fitted as to form' the upper cyl inder-heads G. The'upper face of the cross-head bears simply against the lower face of the upper way G}, so as to. allow free play of the parts when the engineispassing over rough ground.

The stand I is' bolted onto the lower 'edge of the boiler, andjs fitted with suitable boxes to receive the journals of the carrier-wheels K. 'Said carrier-wheels are formed with a central shaft and two flanges,' as

. shown in figs. 3 and 6. These flanges, extending down on each side" of the cogged stem'G rest on the pcripheral flanges 0, thus dividing the weight equally on the face of the traction-wheel y Y The engine is steered, when used as'a traction-engine, by the front wheels L, the axle L of which is pivotedunder the main frame, and operated by means of the arms If, cord or chain L and capstan 'L. By

turningthe capstan the wheels maybe shifted to make a long or 5110mm in either direction, as may he desired.

I am aware that an endless track for the carryingwheels K hasiheretofore been formed by the use of a wheel, on the inner surface of which the carriers rested. I do not, therefore, claim broadlymy wheel 0 as an endless track for the carrier; But my wheel is A distinguished from all others used for analogous purposes in this, that the carriers rest with their flanges bearing on the peripheral flanges of the traction-wheel on each side of the centrally-placed cogged rib 0, thereby applying not only the weight, which has been .doiie before, but also the driving power at the middle of the width of the traction-wheel, thereby preserving its equilibrium.

Another peculiarity of construction is the application of the driving power at the top of the wheel,

thereby giving the greatest possible efi'ect to that which constitutes, in arrangement, a lever, of which the pinion D is the power applied to the wheel 0, the lever acting agaiust the ground which constitutes 'the fnlcrum'to move the carriers K, the weight or resistance.

Engine-cylinders have heretofore been used bolted to a frame carried on the boiler, but I know of no case in which they have been disposed upon the opposite sides of the boiler, upon a frame encircling the boiler, to unite in driving a shaft running longitudi- 3. In combination with the traction-wheels O, the. boiler B, the pinions D, and shaft D, when arranged to operate in relation to one another, substantially as set forth.

' 4. The frame G, in combination with the cylinders E E, when constructed and arranged in relation tothe boiler 13, substantially as described.

5. In combination, the cylinders E and frame G, when the latter is so constructed that a. part, G, of the same shall constitute one of the heads of the cylinder, substantially asset-forth.

6; The frame G, when cast in sucli .form that the parts (3: shall form ways, carrying the cross-head between their opposed faces.

7. The cross-head and ways, in combination, when constructed with a tongue and groove on one side only, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

8,' The frame G, when cast to form. the plumberblock, ways, and cylinder-heads, in one piece, substantially as set forth.

9. The combination of the main frame, the boiler B placed transversely across the frame, stand I, and carriers K, arranged substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

T. '1. PROSSER.

Witnesses G, F. CLAUSEN, B: Enw. J. Ems. 

